Check Mate
The Queen’s Gambit is a chess opening played by Black. It’s considered a “hypermodern” opening, meaning that it features quick moves and strong strategic play. This opening is often used in matches between top-level players, as it offers Black an advantage in position.
Here are our top 10 picks for alternate viewing:
- The Office: The Complete First Season (Netflix)
- Parks and Recreation: Season 1 (Netflix)
- Game of Thrones: Season 7 (HBO)
- Stranger Things: Season 2 (Netflix)
- The Mindy Project: Season 1 ( Hulu) 6. Veep: Seasons 1-3 ( HBO ) 7. Silicon Valley: Seasons 1-3 ( HBO ) 8. Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Seasons 1-7 ( Fox ) 9. Master of None: Seasons 1-3 ( Netflix ) 10. Better Things: Seasons 1-6
-Both are written in simple, easy-to-read language -Both are about everyday life experiences -Both are based on true stories -Both have been published as books ..
We’ve added a link to our full thoughts on that series so you can check it out and see if it’s something you want to invest your time with.
- Game of Thrones
- The Crown
- Stranger Things
- The Mindy Project
- Veep
- Silicon Valley
- The Good Place
- Master of None
- Brooklyn Nine-Nine
- The Mindy Project
The Marvelous Mrs Maisel
Similarities – Characters and Tone
Midge’s life takes a turn for the worse after her husband leaves her. She is left to care for their two children on her own and must find ways to make ends meet. She comes up with a plan to make money by selling paintings she creates. However, when she starts making money, she finds that her life is not as perfect as she thought it would be. She begins to feel like she is in the same position as the protagonist in the novel, who set out to achieve a dream and only has success if he/she is funny.
The show is a wonderful blend of period drama and character-driven struggle, split across 3 seasons and with more to come on the horizon too. ..
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is a show that is full of humor and heart. It follows the life of Miriam Margolyes’s character, Midge Maisel, as she navigates her way through life in New York City during the 1950s. The show is full of great characters and scenes, and it is definitely worth watching if you are looking for a funny show to watch. ..
Alias Grace
Similarities – Mental Health & Period Drama
Alias Grace is a well-written and poetic drama that features a layered plot involving a litany of flashbacks, a well-written and poetic script, and an award-winning performance from Sarah Gadon. The story is set in the fictional town of West Egg on Long Island in 1922, and follows the lives of several characters over the course of several years.
In the 1800s, psychiatrist Dr. Simon Jordan weighed in on whether murderess Grace should be pardoned due to insanity. His opinion was influential, and led to her receiving a pardon. This story highlights the importance of expert opinion in legal matters, and how it can have a significant impact on society. ..
The story follows Jordan as she tells her story of how she became involved in the murders of her friends and family, and the challenges she faced in order to pull off the crime. The narrative is narrated through a series of face to face discussions between Jordan and Grace, recounting their troubled life and the adversity this woman endured leading up to the murders she stands accused of.
Alias Grace is a period drama set in the early 1800s that tells the story of Lady Grace Carstairs, an illegitimate daughter of a duke and Duchess of Malfi. Lady Grace is forced to flee her home in Italy after her father is accused of treason and executed. She finds herself in England, where she must navigate the dangerous waters of the 18th century.
Alias Grace is a dark and twisted story of love, betrayal, and redemption. It’s a show that is sure to leave an impression on viewers, and we can’t wait to see what the rest of season has in store.
The English Game
Similarities – Sport-Based Drama
The English Game is a sports biopic that dives back through time to the origins of football. Here, we witness the evolution of this Gentleman’s Elite game into the behemoth that it is now become in modern times. ..
Despite its potential, the idea of a period piece set in the 1920s often falls victim to melodrama, romance, and sexual innuendos. ..
The new stadium is a sleek, glossy façade of football that feels a lot more like Downtown Abbey.
The new movie “FIFA 18” is a great watch if you’re looking for something similar to the sport of football.
Our thoughts on The English Game this season are here!
Medici
Similarities – Family Drama
Rinaldo Albizzi is the illegitimate son of Lorenzo de’ Medici, one of the most powerful and influential families in Florence. Albizzi has always been a rebel, and he’s only gotten worse since his father’s death. He’s determined to take over the family business, and he’s not afraid to use force if necessary. Cosimo de’ Medici is a much more traditional figure, and he doesn’t want Albizzi taking over at all. But when Cosimo dies, Rinaldo takes his place as head of the family. This puts a lot of pressure on Rinaldo to make sure that his family stays strong and prosperous.
This conflict drives much of the narrative forward, eventually coming to a head late on during the show’s climactic finale. From here, the next couple of seasons expand the story and history of the Medici family, delivering a compelling series worth checking out.
Our thoughts on the Medici dynasty in our full season reviews here.
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo
Similarities – Sports & Characters
When young Kim Bok Joo enrolls at a prestigious high school in Seoul, she’s not sure what to expect. She’s never been good at sports, let alonelifting. But when she meets the popular and powerful girls her school is known for, she quickly realizes that there’s more to life than just being a good weightlifter. With the help of her fairy godmother (played by Ji Seung-woo), Kim Bok Joo learns how to be herself and find her place in the world.
The story is set in a small town in upstate New York, and the characters are all college athletes who have dreams of playing professional football or basketball. The story starts slowly, with the players at a local high school trying to make it as a team. The story then evolves into a memorable feel-good story about how these college athletes fight for their dreams and achieve their goals. There are some great character work achieved here, and across the season all the characters grow and evolve in a realistic way.
The chemistry between the lead characters and the supporting cast is excellent, and the series is easy to fall in love with.
Fight for My Way
Similarities – Sport-Based Drama
Ko Dong-Man is a young man who has always dreamed of becoming a star player in the NBA. He works hard every day to achieve his goals, but when he falls short, he finds himself fighting for his way back up. Choi Ae-Ra is a woman who has always wanted to be a model and become one of the most popular stars in the world. She works hard to achieve her goals, but when she falls short, she finds herself fighting for her way back up. These two characters are each struggling with their own personal demons that are preventing them from achieving their dreams. However, they are each willing to fight for their way back up and make their dreams come true.
Dong-Man, a professional mixed martial artist, has big dreams of becoming UFC champion. Ae-Ra, a commentator and former fighter, gave up on her dreams after failing to make it as a professional athlete. She now works at a department store. ..
There’s a great life lesson to be learned in this story about following your dreams and some hilarious moments along the way. This is a solid entry on the list.
The Crown
Similarities – Period Drama
The Crown is a Netflix original series that follows the life of Queen Elizabeth II and her court during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The show is highly anticipated by fans of historical dramas, as it features some of the most well-known and iconic characters from British history. The series has been praised for its well-done historical accuracy, as well as its powerful storytelling. It has been nominated for several awards, including a Golden Globe Award and a BAFTA Award.
The production of “The Crown” is a very stylish and impressive one, blending romance and character relations beautifully. This period drama follows the political rivalries and romance of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, making it a very popular show. ..
Netflix’s Stranger Things is one of the few Originals that have made it over the three season hurdle. If you’re a fan of period dramas, then this series is definitely worth watching.
Agent Carter
Similarities – Strong Female & Period Drama
Agent Carter is a new Marvel television series that takes place in 1946 and follows the story of Peggy Carter, who is relegated to secretarial duties in the Strategic Scientific Reserve. ..
When a man named Howard Stark is accused of treason, he secretly recruits Peggy to clear his name. It’s a simple story but one that’s well written and split across two seasons. The first season is about the events leading up to the accusation and the trial, while the second season is about Peggy’s attempt to clear his name.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been a huge success for Marvel Studios, and the show does an excellent job of branching out its license into a blend of espionage action and period drama. The show also helps that there’s an equally empowering female in the driver’s seat too which draws more than a few parallels to The Queen’s Gambit.
Big Little Lies
Similarities – Complicated Characters
The show is well written and has a stacked cast. The story is self-contained and well shot. The dialogue is realistically portrayed and the characters are well-developed.
The cast of “The Help” is impressive, with Nicole Kidman, Emma Roberts, and Octavia Spencer all shining. The film is well-made and provides a lot of laughs, but it’s also very moving.
The second season of Big Little Lies brings a litany of continuity problems, but if you’re after a snippet of mental health issues and strong female banding together, then the show should definitely be on your watch-list.
Big Little Lies is a great show that we think you should check out.
The Master Game
Similarities – Chess
The Master Game is a BBC series that aired in the 1970s and was based on the game of chess. It featured cash prizes and a variety of chess masters competing to be the best. ..
This series is all about the excitement and drama of chess, from the first game to the last. It’s a must-watch for anyone interested in the sport.
- The Crown
- Game of Thrones
- Stranger Things
- The Handmaid’s Tale
- Westworld
- The Crown (Netflix) 7. Game of Thrones (HBO) 8. Stranger Things (Netflix) 9. The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu) 10. Westworld (HBO) ..
Our picks for the best laptops for students are based on our research and personal experience. We took into account features, performance, and price to come up with our recommendations. Do you have any other suggestions? Let us know in the comments below!
